Three fishermen from Jayapura held in PNG

Three fishermen from Jayapura, Papua, are held in Papua New Guinea (PNG) for allegedly poaching fish, according to head of foreign and border affairs of Papua provincial administration, Suzanna Wanggai.

She told Antara on Sunday the three fishermen known as Umar, Sandi and Bakri were reported to have been held since December 10, 2015.

The Indonesian embassy in Papua New Guinea is still striving to reduce their punishment, she said.

She said she did not know how much was the punishment as she had not yet received a full report about the case.

She said based on reports so far the three fishermen actually did not conduct illegal fishing but they had stranded to Wewak waters in Papua New Guinea after they had trouble in the engine of their motor boat.

“I hope the punishment for the three will be reduced and they will immediately be allowed to return home,” she said.